This Mix-Up Has Happened Before
Alaskan criminal detectives believed they had nabbed a criminal when they uploaded a DNA sample to a database in 2004. There was only one issue: the man was in jail at the time of the incident. But DNA samples are perfect, correct? It turned out that the criminal’s sibling had undergone a bone marrow transplant. He was found guilty, and a year after, crime detection scientist Abirami Chidambaram presented the evidence in 2005. This is the exact situation that Chilton was referring to.
This Mix Up Has Happened Before
But That’s Not The Only Problem
Chilton believes that chimeras present a new challenge to the medical community. In 2008, research professor Yongbin Eom attempted to identify the victim of an automobile accident in Seoul, South Korea. His DNA indicated that he was female, but his physique was male. The victim had gotten a bone marrow transplant from his daughter. Chimeras have two sets of DNA: their own and their donor’s. This could prevent medical investigators from correctly identifying a body.
But That’s Not The Only Problem
